“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” - Dr. Seuss
We K–12 educators work on a cyclical timeline. There also aren’t many jobs that have such a traditional, structured, and predictable beginning and ending. There is a specifically stated beginning and ending, along with predictable intermittent breaks. Nor are there many professions where one can “start anew” annually like in education. And finally, there is not much like the month of June for school staff in the world of K–12 education. If you haven’t lived it, you don’t fully understand it.
It’s like the day before a long scheduled vacation – but not just a day – the entire month of June. Or more specifically, the period of time post–Memorial Day weekend. The sun sets later, the temperature increases, community activities ramp up to full speed, and school again comes to a close as 8–10 weeks of summer break await. There doesn’t seem to be enough time to get things done. Successes and disappointments are realized, emotions are high, and patience is thin. And I am talking about the adults. Add several hundred children experiencing the same thing, and the resulting environment is something to behold! (That’s the most positive way I could describe it is “surreal, frustrating, and complicated.”)
I have had the opportunity to experience “June” some 35 times in my educational career, and I have learned a few things along the way – mostly by first failing at them.
Finishing Strong
Overplan
First, plan your lessons and/or daily schedule like you did in September when you were full of energy. June is not the time to “just wing it.” Teachers, overplan with more material than you will need for a lesson. Keep students active and engaged during every minute of class time to proactively reduce the opportunity for “bad things” to happen. Principals, schedule your day as if there weren’t piles of paperwork to complete. Get out there into classrooms and hallways. Trouble usually doesn’t occur when adults are visible in the area. Go tend your flock as they graze!
Stop Putting It Off
Speaking of paperwork and other end-of-year tasks, get done what you can prior to June — jot yourself a reminder note in April next year. We cause some of our own stress through procrastination. Time is a very valuable resource. Add more time to your June schedule by not procrastinating in April and May.
A Goodwill Mindset
Again, we penalize ourselves (and others) with past grudges and self-imposed lines in the sand. Breathe. Let it go. Give yourself and others a fresh start during a challenging period. Charity for all!
Go to Your Happy Place
Literally or figuratively!
As a high school principal, there were days when I wasn’t certain why I chose the career path. I learned that one of my in-school “happy places” was in the classroom and hallways with students. I joined classroom discussions. I spent time with students in hallways, at lunch tables, and near locker banks talking about current events, sports, or weekend plans. I found such moments changed my mindset for the better.
Where’s your happy place in the school?
On the figurative side, find your happy place using a list of music or videos that brighten your mood! For me, it’s AC/DC in the realm of music. Make your list to help get through June!
The Summer Recharge
Whether you are off for the summer or work year-round, give yourself a break — you have earned it — but not for too long. As you recharge over the summer, continue your personal and professional growth with an eye on the next school year.
We educators get our growth and reflection time in one annual chunk instead of having it embedded throughout the year. As we all know, the fast-paced, high-stress roller coaster from September to June permits little time for effective growth and reflection.
Advanced Planning
All of this should be done with an eye on the start of the next school year in August or September.
What will be your school’s incremental improvement next year? Will there be an instructional improvement focus such as improved questioning or more formative assessment and feedback? Or maybe enhanced differentiation? Will there be a facet of school culture and climate to focus on? When was the last time someone reviewed your curriculum in light of state standards adjustments? Or perhaps there will be a focus on growing the leadership skills of key staff members?
Did state testing data just drop? What are the curriculum and instructional implications?
Maybe all of the above — and more.
Summer is the time to reflect, brainstorm, and research such initiatives while coordinating resources in terms of funding, time, and support. While all three resources can be a challenge, even when funding and time fall into place, we often lack access to quality support for our agenda.
First, our internal staff members are not always experts in particular initiatives. Second, our needs are often so unique to our schools that boilerplate solutions simply don’t fit well. And finally, when you find quality support or consultants, they are often already booked for the school year.
This is why advanced planning is essential.
Discuss your ideas, innovations, and timelines for the next school year with the directors at Inspired Instruction this summer. For customized workshops, curriculum support, and scalable instructional coaching, there are no boilerplate solutions here. Differentiated professional development and multi-tiered staff support are the norm in our solutions.
Reserve your support early! If nothing else, get a free consultation about your improvement ideas for next year.
Now that I’ve added to your June stress with the need to advance-plan for next year (my apologies…), breathe and find that “happy place!” You’ve got this!
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“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt
